Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-28
TRIED FOR TREASON.
A Thrilling Incident of h "Undergrour
Railroad" Days Recalled.

- - NNS
i Railroad" Days Recalled.
Doubtless many old Philadelphians will
recall the events which the New York Mail
and Express graphically depicts in the fol-
lowing article:
Only one living man of the so, 000, 600
or more people in this country has bsen
tried for high treason against the United
/ States Government. Aaron Burr, dead,
shares the distinction with him. This man
is Casper Runaway, a Pennsylvania Qua
Ker, now living in WILDER, Seine county,
Neb. He is 66 years old. His trial for
high treason occurred thirty-fve years
ago in the United States Court in Phila-
delphia Though o almost forgotten,
it was one of the exciting incl
dents in the early days Of the
anti-slavery agitation. The celebrated
underground slave railroad" is wildly
recalled by it, and the notorious Blood
hound Gang" of slave traffickers also plays
a leading part in the story. In Mr.. Han
ways trial some of the most prominent
men of that time took part. "Thad" Ste
vens was one He was leading counsel for
the defense. With him were associated
Thomas Kelly and John Read, both emf
nent lawyers. Read afterward became
Chief Justice of Pennsylvania. Judge
Cooper, another distinguished Pennsyl-
v~anian, led the prosecution, and the case,
which lasted seventeen days, was heard
before Judges Kane and Grier, of the United
States Court. 1t is a fact of particular in
terest that of the many persons who took
part in this remarkable trial and in the
stormy events preceding it Mr.. Hanway is
the only survivor. Judge, jury, witnesses,
famous counsel, and even one of Mr.. Han
ways Quaker brethren, who was Jointly
indicted with him, but never tred-all
have passed to a higher Court.
The story of the incidents surrounding
the case, when related to the writer during
a recent Western trip by the sole remain
ing actor in them, and the one for whom
they had most serious import, possessed an
interest peculiarly enhanced by Mr.. Han
ways genuine Quaker mOdesty of manner.
lie is . plain man. He stands some inches
over six feet. His form is spare in pro-
portion to his height. His face is calm
and patient, and he speaks deliberately
and th%Oughtfully In q low, mild m~odulated
voice. Mr.. Hanway removed from Penn.
s~ylvania to Nebraska in 1878 fer his
health. His wife and a huge Newfound-
land dog are his only family. The three
take life very quietly. The nesrest ap-
prOach to excitement is when Mr.. Han
way relates his story, and hat is seldom.
What Pennsy lvauia local history records
as the ChTistiana tragedy was the affair
from which the trial grew. 1t happened Oh
September II, III Lancaster county, where
Mr.. Hanway was then Il small miller. Mr..
Hanway was from the first one Of the most
leryent Of the many feryent Quaker Adolf
t~iOaistS. He was the proprietor of a regu-
lar station of the underground railway.
Many fugitive slaves were helped on their
perilOus pilgrimages 10 the Canadian safety
line by him. lie had from one to half n
dozen at his depot all the time, and once
he harbored as many az eleven, but the
utmost vigilance was required to elude the
Bloodhound Gang which infested the re-
giOn. The business of this gang was to
kidnap both fugitive and free negroes, and
spirit them across into Maryland, where
the slave dealers maintained n brisk mar
ket.
Toward the fall of 1851 the Bloodhound
Gang grew particularly bold and desperate.
Its raids were more numerous than ever
before. Emissaries from the desperate
band OF negro-hunters Overran Lancaster
county and the adjoining country, and
opposition to them was extremely hazard
Il
For Il long time the Bloodhound Gang
had hated William Parker, who lived near
Mr.. Hanway's place. Parker was a negro
and n fugitive. Besides possessing great
physical courage, he was intelligent and
energetic, and all the blacks of the region
had long recognized him rs their leader.
He made no secret of his hatred for the
S~lave-hunters, and in more than one in-
strnCe he had thwarted their designs. So
great was his personal prOwess and his
popularity with the negroes that even the
Bloodhound Gang did not dare to attempt
his capture by open violence. They at
last determined to take him by strategy.
Edward GiOrsch, Parker's former master,
lived down in Maryland. He was a rabid
pro-slavery man. 1t was easy for the
Bloodhound Gang to enlist his assistance
in the attempt to capture Parker, over
whose loss GOrsuch had long been very
sore. The gang also obtained the appoint
ment Of Henry II. Kline, a low, worthless
fellow Of Lancaster, as Deputy United
States Marshal. Then GOrsuch and his
sons, with Kline and some of the Blood
hound Gang, started after Parker. They
reached his cabin Just before dawn on the
morning Of September IL. Kline ham
mercd on the door, and rlled upOn Parker
to surrender in the name OF the United
States Government. Parker replied from
within, refusing to obey the summons.
"Open that door, you black hound, or
we'll batter it in!' yelled Kline. 81 am a
United States Marshal"
81 believe you are a liar from the tone
of your voice; officers of the United States
generally talk like gentlemen" replied
the sturdy negro. 81 will not p the
door, and | give you fair warning it will
be the worse for you if you try to force it."
At the same time Parker hastily told
his wife to blow tin horn from au upper
window. This was a signal for the rising
OF the blacks. The lusty blast sounded
for half a mile around. Excited negroes
spraug up from all sides. Hardly had
Kline and GorsuCh repeated their demands
on Parker before they were surrounded.
The startled blacks were ready for desper-
ate work. Most of them were armed with
long, ugly corn. knives, some carried pitch.
forks and axes and Il few had pistols or
guns.
Mr.. Hanway lived a mile from Parker's
cabin. He was ct breakfast when the news
OF the disturbance reached him. 1t was
brought by a brother Quaker named Elijah
Lewis. Mounting his horse and leaving
Lewis 10 follow on foot. Mr.. Hauway
started of to the scene on 4 gallOp. As he
came painting up the negroes at Parker's
were on the point of charging the Gorsuch
party. They were huddled in a narrow
lane near the cabin, branishing their mis-
cellaneOus weapons and yelling defiance at
the kidnappers. But for Hanway's timely
arrival blood would have flowed in a few
minutes. He was highly respected by the
neurOeS and calling 70 them IN stand their